The Importance of the 4th and 5th Toes…
What’s up with that?
Janet Winnett
November 2008
Lately I’ve seen a lot of emphasis put on the 4th and 5th toes on our silkies on various forums and eggbid. In my experience I’ve found that for exhibition the 4th and 5th toes hold a very low value in the evaluation of the birds. Length, separation, & toe placement are just not important.
I polled 10 judges this fall in New England & NY about the importance of the 4th and 5th toes while judging. The response was in a nutshell: They are looking for not enough toes, too many toes, and extra toenails. They want to see 5 toes---period. Length and separation hold very little importance in the overall judging of the individual bird.
I have never had a judge comment to me on exceptional toes, or bad toes for that matter—but I’ve had many comments and conversations on other areas of much more importance such as: type, color, conditioning, wings, combs, crests, cushion, foot feathering and size, etc.
If your bird in question clearly has 5 toes I would show it and breed from it if it is a good representative of the breed.
If it is missing a toenail it will be discounted a point in judging but I would still show it and breed from it.
If it has an extra toenail I would not show it or breed from it.
If it has less than or more than 5 toes I would not breed from it or show it (it would be disqualified)
I would never not show a solid quality bird because it had less than perfect toes..
ie: Partial fusing, longer 4th toe than 5th toe, 5th toe not pointing up, or 4th toe pointing down.
An excellent bird with perfect toes will make me smile,
but an excellent bird with less than perfect toes will make me smile too.
